I hereby recommend a new rule for
DWTS, taking a page out of the
SYTYCD book: If you judge, you must also dance. You don't get to act entitled, high, and mighty if you've never danced a day of ballroom in your life. I think you all know who I'm referring to...

I'll elaborate later...and what the heck was Len doing his masterclass on SALSA and JITTERBUG???!! Hasn't he claimed himself that he doesn't know much about them? I can't believe that he and producers didn't figure out that his talents were better suited to coaching actual ballroom dances. I feel like I'm taking crazy pills :shock:
Brooke & Derek - wow, the higher you climb, the farther you fall. That jive was dreadful. Brooke was missing leads left & right, and never seemed to really commit to the triple-step action - it was very shuffley for me. I loved the song choice, but I think it may have contributed to the failure of their jive - it was just too fast. Carrie Ann came across as uppity as ever to me when critiquing this one - going so far as to calling their lift (if you can call it that - I remember Tony & Inna doing it IN COMPETITION and still winning pro rhythm) "disrespectful at this stage of the competition". Right, Carrie Ann - because all the couples are refraining from doing lifts out of RESPECT for YOU. Get over yourself. She further reiterates how subjective and hypocritical she can be when she applauds their trick-and-lift laden salsa, saying that "there were a lot of lifts, but I liked them and it fit the dance". Soooo...I guess there's a new rule now: no lifts, unless Carrie Ann likes them. What a bunch of poppycock. But as for their salsa - it was alright. The number of good solid basics was disproportionately small compared to the number of flashy tricks...but it was fun to watch.
Cody & Julianne - this week just solidified the fact for me that the judges DO NOT want Cody to be in the finals. A paso that was light years better than Brooke & Derek's jive, and it gets 1 point more? *barf bucket* True, Cody was a bit stiff - but in the paso more than ever, I think it suited him this time. He presented his chest well, and had strong arms and feet. Loved the military theme & costumes - and boy, is that boy strapping! It was a very athletic routine, and he pulled it off. Their salsa was better - a fun, sugary little ditty, and Cody did seem to loosen his hips up a bit. He did seem to get a bit rushed during the middle, but some creative backleading from Julianne got him back on time. And kudos to Julianne for wearing a belly-baring costume only two weeks after having surgery...she looks fantastic!!! Despite having a pretty good week, though, I daresay these two are headed home tomorrow night - no thanks to the judges and their skewed scoring.
Warren & Kym - I think Warren's stage presence alone could carry him to the finals. These two were so much fun to watch tonight...their mambo was the slickest and most relaxed we've seen. Not a whole lot of complexity, but I respect the fact that Kym knows how to stick with what Warren can do, and knows that a quality basic trumps a sloppily-done flashy move any day. Love the fact that Warren finally got to wear a chest-and-arm-baring vest. And ahem - Bruno? "You get away with murder, Warren!"???! No Bruno, murder is what you do to our ears with some of the stuff that comes out of your mouth on a weekly basis. The jitterbug was probably the most creative theme we've seen so far - casino. And loved the fact that they used "Old Black Magic" as their music. So fun! It was energetic, fun, and carefree. And whoever tried to call Warren out for having his feet "all over the place" - um, isn't that kinda the idea in jitterbug?
Lance & Lacey - ok, as much as it pains me to say it: these two stole the show tonight. Their mambo was the best we've seen all season - not too "out there", good solid basics, proper timing & technique, and great performance quality. Didn't notice Lance's pigeon-toedness so much. Glad to see Lacey in an outfit that wasn't so "out there" and edgy - she looked very pretty tonight. Their signature move this season? The "turn to each side of the dance floor and point" box. Their jitterbug had great energy and fun choreography - but somehow, it still left me wanting more. I guess I still think that nothing can top Cody & Julianne's jitterbug - none of the others so far have measured up to its technique, energy, and comedy. Although Lance's shoe flying off was pretty entertaining! I just wish he wouldn't have stared at it for 15 seconds straight right after it happened. I think these two just may have solidified themselves as contenders for the win...too bad the judges have already made up their minds who they want to win this thing.
Did You Notice...?
*Debbie Gibson in the audience? I smell a contestant for next season...
*Brooke's undies peeking out for most of her salsa? Whoops, Brooke...that's what built-in spankies are for!
*The corner of Cody's lip bleeding after their salsa? Did Julianne accidentally smack him in the face coming out of a turn or lift, or did he just get really excited and bite down on it?
*Paul, the winning "Johnny" from the
Dirty Dancing reality show, performing the salsa example?
*Christian Perry, the choreographer of the season 5 group rock 'n' roll routine and season 6 country routine, performing the jitterbug example?